Cool After School Club

Cool After School Club St. Vincent de Paul RC Primary School, Bedwell Crescent, STEVENAGE, Hertfordshire, SG1 1NJ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 12 January 2017 Not applicable

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 The manager provides inspirational leadership for the dedicated and highly effective staff. They work exceptionally well as a team and there is a shared commitment to improve the quality of the provision to the highest standard.  Children of all ages elect their peers each term, to form a child council. They help to seek each other's views and ideas for the club, through discussion and completing questionnaires. The council make effective decisions and feed these back to the staff and committee.  The staff provide a highly stimulating environment with a wide range of activities. This helps all children engage in effective play. Children display high levels of concentration. The staff consistently reflect on the environment and the activities they offer to ensure they continue to interest and challenge all children.  Exceptionally strong partnerships are in place between the parents and staff. Parents

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This provision is outstanding

speak very highly of the excellent quality of care the staff provide. They feel their children are safe at the club and they are reluctant to leave until they have completed their activities.  Systems for monitoring staff performance and supervision are thorough and successfully promote continuous professional development. Staff are very well qualified, knowledgeable and confident in addressing children's individual needs.  Children who speak English as an additional language are supported well. Staff work very closely with parents and teachers to provide consistency in promoting their language skills. Children enjoy using a large map to mark the countries they come from. This promotes effective discussions about different families and communities.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 continue to build on children's skills and understanding of how to use technological equipment safely for learning and enjoyment.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of activities, both indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's enjoyment.  The inspector discussed the children's involvement in the adult-planned activity with the deputy manager.  The inspector checked the evidence of the suitability of staff working in the club and of the committee members.  The inspector held a number of discussions with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation, including evidence of the suitability of persons working with children. The inspector also discussed how the manager and staff reflect on their practice.  The inspector spoke to a selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Robust policies and procedures are consistently applied by the manager and committee to ensure that children are very well protected. Staff turnover is low. Nonetheless, rigorous recruitment and vetting procedures are in place. This helps to ensure that when new staff are required they are thoroughly checked to ensure they are suitable to work with children. The manager and staff are very passionate about their work at the club and strive for excellence. They engage in regular reflective discussions and highly value feedback from parents and children. The staff provide parents with a wealth of information, such as how to help their children stay safe online. They have identified that they want to promote this even more in the setting by teaching children how to use tablet computers safely for enjoyment and learning. The staff work in close partnership with the host school. The headteacher states how pleased

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

he is to have such a good, safe place for his pupils to attend once the school day is over.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff provide a very well-organised environment where children have fun and play freely. Cosy areas are furnished with cushions and a variety of books are available. Children use these areas to rest or read quietly. As children engage in listening games, staff use highly effective questions to help them discuss in what context they might hear the sound. These games promote many discussions based on the world and on children's experiences. Children enjoy using their creative skills and imagination during art and craft activities. They take great care to stick pieces together and precisely draw their own designs, such as when making ladybirds. Individual year books highlight the younger children's achievements at the club. These books are regularly shared with parents. Parents say they value highly the time staff spend on observing their children at play. They comment on how reading the books and holding discussions with their child's key person helps them to

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

understand what their children enjoy doing and how to promote play at home.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children are keen to be outdoors, even on very cold days. They enjoy using binoculars to look for birds in the trees. The younger children are disappointed not to see a robin who regularly visits the garden. Older children explain to them that it is cold and wet and the birds are most likely sheltering in their nests. At other times of the year, children engage in gardening, growing flowers and vegetables. Children enjoy healthy meals and are highly independent as they make sandwiches or help themselves to cereal. Staff are acutely aware of children who have medical needs. They work closely with parents to develop care plans and take advice from specialist service professionals to ensure they offer the best possible care. Children's behaviour is excellent. Staff use praise effectively to reinforce positive behaviour and good manners. Children are involved in developing the club rules and values, these are displayed in written and picture form. This helps to

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

remind children what is expected of them. They are consistently polite and considerate towards each other and are developing very effective friendships. This is particularly obvious in relationships being made between children who attend different schools.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY481104 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 988134 Type of provision Out of school provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 4 - 11 Total number of places 35 Number of children on roll 90 Name of registered person Cool After School Club Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07940 562 482

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reference number

Cool After School Club was registered in 2014. The club employs four members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The club opens from Monday to Friday through school term times. Sessions are from 3.15pm to 5.45pm. The club supports children who speak English as an additional language.

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reference number

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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reference number

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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reference number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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